Kim39
22nd May 2006, 10:49 AM
I wasn't really going to post this thread, but seeing I have a spare half hour I thought I would do it.
Ok, as some folk will know and others won't, we arrived in NZ on the 4th Nov after a long hard fight to sell the house back HOME in the UK. Was originally suppose to go and live and work in Auckland, but that would have been financial suicide for us, so decisions were made to relocate and find work in the Waikato region. This decision was made after staying with friends who live in Cambridge, and also after having a little trip down to the Manawatu to stay with Diny and Mark, where my original employer had stated I could go to if Auckland didn't suit. After a 10-day stay we felt we would be more settled further North, so off we travelled back up to the Waikato.
Well over the last 5 months things have been what I would call a struggle, but others may not agree. Firstly, as I did have a job to come too when arriving, I had to start to apply for jobs again (at least I was here), but things didn't go too smoothly due to the industry I am in (transport). As much as there is a shortage of drivers in NZ I only have experience in Semi trailer work, and as NZ primarily go with a truck and trailer combo employers weren't to keen to give me a chance, and the ones who did have my type of trailers just didn't have positions available, so it took about 4 months to get sorted properly. Don't get me wrong I did have a few jobs leading up to the one I am currently in, but they just didn't work out. Anyway, I am employed by a small local company, but I have to bust my gut for 14 hrs a day 5 days a week, and at basic rate so its not really a job I am enjoying at the moment, but at least it keeping the wolves away from the door. Elaine is sorted with employment, but this job has taken her 4 months to find also. She really had the confidence knocked out of her (40 job applications and not one interview), and I think she was a week or two away from booking tickets back when this job came along. She is happy where she is and is actually being paid more here than in the UK, and is doing roughly the same type of work, so she hasn't had to adjust to her employment as much as myself. I won't bore you with the details of the industry out here, but lets just say that the rules and regs have not changed for the last 44 years, so I suppose I am bound to struggle to begin with. Anyway enough of the employment, but keep your fingers crossed for me as I have an interview on Thursday with Fonterra, get in there and I’ll be alright.
We have settled into Te Awamutu quite nicely, we have a decent and affordable rental on a 1/4-acre plot. We have lovely neighbours who have helped us through the rough times and encouraged us to stick with it. We have made an addition to the family in the way of a kitten, who is nothing but a pain in the arse, always climbing the curtains, and wrecking them (so much for our bond) and annoying our 12 yr old dog, but hey its just lovely watching them chase each other. We have a nice mix of ex-pat friends as well as kiwi. The kiwi friends came due to my involvement with Te Awamutu FC. Having been encouraged to join them by an ex-pat I did and really haven't looked back. The players welcomed me into there fold and I must admit that myself and the ex-pats that are in the team have really encouraged them to play football the way it should be played, and the team has made massive strides in the last 8 weeks But being the age I am means I am susceptible to injury, and that is why I have a spare 1/2hr, because I am now testing the ACC system due to me tearing my sheath in my right quad a few weeks ago, and am coming into my 3rd week off work . Oh the pains of having to be happy.
I would like to think that things are on the up and these last 6 months has been a learning curve for us all. Things weren't good to begin with especially with losing my sister 3 weeks into this exciting journey we were travelling on. My immediate thought was for my Dad back home who is 77 and all alone and without any of his close family to lean on in the wake of my sisters death, but after many phone calls home he kept saying stay and create a new life, and that he would be fine, and true to his word he is...I think
I won't go into the everyday mundane things that other folk have posted because I would be going over old words. Lets say that hopefully we have got over the hard bit and things will start to settle and we can move on and start to live this dream the right way. I know that NZ isn't for all, and folk just up sticks without giving it a real go, and I for one may fall into that category for one reason or another. But I feel I can't just say lets do it and go back because things aren't working for me and upset the other members of my family who ARE settled. If I did I would be walking straight into a divorce the moment I landed. And as it costs a bloody lot to make this move and a little more to return, I wouldn't like the thought of a costly divorce sitting on my shoulders, so kimmyboy your in it for the long haul.
As a family we are having more time as a family, as much as I have reintroduced myself to the football and my girls are doing things they never even thought of doing in the UK. My eldest has just made her debut for the girls school football team, and my youngest is up early on a Saturday morning to go and play netball for her school, we are now becoming known as the fit family.... my arse Elaine has to split her time between taking and watching Hayley our youngest to netball, then flipping across to watch me play (when it suits), but we all sit down in the evening have a good laugh at what has gone on, and make plans for the Sunday....ok not much to do now due to the weather turning, but through the last few months we have done what families are suppose to do and that is spend time as one.
So a little insight has been shared in to this dream and I hope you have enjoyed the read. Here's to the next 6 months and let see what that brings. Will I still be struggling, or will the pull of the UK (job) take me (alone) back...watch this space
Kim
Ok, as some folk will know and others won't, we arrived in NZ on the 4th Nov after a long hard fight to sell the house back HOME in the UK. Was originally suppose to go and live and work in Auckland, but that would have been financial suicide for us, so decisions were made to relocate and find work in the Waikato region. This decision was made after staying with friends who live in Cambridge, and also after having a little trip down to the Manawatu to stay with Diny and Mark, where my original employer had stated I could go to if Auckland didn't suit. After a 10-day stay we felt we would be more settled further North, so off we travelled back up to the Waikato.
Well over the last 5 months things have been what I would call a struggle, but others may not agree. Firstly, as I did have a job to come too when arriving, I had to start to apply for jobs again (at least I was here), but things didn't go too smoothly due to the industry I am in (transport). As much as there is a shortage of drivers in NZ I only have experience in Semi trailer work, and as NZ primarily go with a truck and trailer combo employers weren't to keen to give me a chance, and the ones who did have my type of trailers just didn't have positions available, so it took about 4 months to get sorted properly. Don't get me wrong I did have a few jobs leading up to the one I am currently in, but they just didn't work out. Anyway, I am employed by a small local company, but I have to bust my gut for 14 hrs a day 5 days a week, and at basic rate so its not really a job I am enjoying at the moment, but at least it keeping the wolves away from the door. Elaine is sorted with employment, but this job has taken her 4 months to find also. She really had the confidence knocked out of her (40 job applications and not one interview), and I think she was a week or two away from booking tickets back when this job came along. She is happy where she is and is actually being paid more here than in the UK, and is doing roughly the same type of work, so she hasn't had to adjust to her employment as much as myself. I won't bore you with the details of the industry out here, but lets just say that the rules and regs have not changed for the last 44 years, so I suppose I am bound to struggle to begin with. Anyway enough of the employment, but keep your fingers crossed for me as I have an interview on Thursday with Fonterra, get in there and I’ll be alright.
We have settled into Te Awamutu quite nicely, we have a decent and affordable rental on a 1/4-acre plot. We have lovely neighbours who have helped us through the rough times and encouraged us to stick with it. We have made an addition to the family in the way of a kitten, who is nothing but a pain in the arse, always climbing the curtains, and wrecking them (so much for our bond) and annoying our 12 yr old dog, but hey its just lovely watching them chase each other. We have a nice mix of ex-pat friends as well as kiwi. The kiwi friends came due to my involvement with Te Awamutu FC. Having been encouraged to join them by an ex-pat I did and really haven't looked back. The players welcomed me into there fold and I must admit that myself and the ex-pats that are in the team have really encouraged them to play football the way it should be played, and the team has made massive strides in the last 8 weeks But being the age I am means I am susceptible to injury, and that is why I have a spare 1/2hr, because I am now testing the ACC system due to me tearing my sheath in my right quad a few weeks ago, and am coming into my 3rd week off work . Oh the pains of having to be happy.
I would like to think that things are on the up and these last 6 months has been a learning curve for us all. Things weren't good to begin with especially with losing my sister 3 weeks into this exciting journey we were travelling on. My immediate thought was for my Dad back home who is 77 and all alone and without any of his close family to lean on in the wake of my sisters death, but after many phone calls home he kept saying stay and create a new life, and that he would be fine, and true to his word he is...I think
I won't go into the everyday mundane things that other folk have posted because I would be going over old words. Lets say that hopefully we have got over the hard bit and things will start to settle and we can move on and start to live this dream the right way. I know that NZ isn't for all, and folk just up sticks without giving it a real go, and I for one may fall into that category for one reason or another. But I feel I can't just say lets do it and go back because things aren't working for me and upset the other members of my family who ARE settled. If I did I would be walking straight into a divorce the moment I landed. And as it costs a bloody lot to make this move and a little more to return, I wouldn't like the thought of a costly divorce sitting on my shoulders, so kimmyboy your in it for the long haul.
As a family we are having more time as a family, as much as I have reintroduced myself to the football and my girls are doing things they never even thought of doing in the UK. My eldest has just made her debut for the girls school football team, and my youngest is up early on a Saturday morning to go and play netball for her school, we are now becoming known as the fit family.... my arse Elaine has to split her time between taking and watching Hayley our youngest to netball, then flipping across to watch me play (when it suits), but we all sit down in the evening have a good laugh at what has gone on, and make plans for the Sunday....ok not much to do now due to the weather turning, but through the last few months we have done what families are suppose to do and that is spend time as one.
So a little insight has been shared in to this dream and I hope you have enjoyed the read. Here's to the next 6 months and let see what that brings. Will I still be struggling, or will the pull of the UK (job) take me (alone) back...watch this space
Kim